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If you are looking for an insightful blog about the world of cycling, today’s blog isn’t for you. I’m going to get on my soap box regarding the Operation Puerto cluster very soon.

I’ve been tooling around on the new Hutchinson Tubeless tires. I’ve got them on a set of Dura-Ace wheels. Originally I thought road tubeless tires were a solution to a problem that didn’t exist. Sure they eliminate pinch flats, but other than that I didn’t see the big deal…till I rode them. The ride feel on them is like butter! Very smooth and some of my best rides of late have been with these wheels and tires under my BMC. I felt really smooth on a couple of local climbs and the wheels seemed to spin up to speed quicker than when I was using clinchers on the same wheels. I also broke my personal down hill speed record (previous 54 miles per hour, now 58). At that speed they felt perfectly safe and I actually passed a few cars on the descent. I run the tire pressure a little lower than previous (usually I ride at 120 pounds, now I comfortable cruise at 95 psi) which I think helps. I remember reading somewhere that Continental tires actually did a study on rolling resistance and found that a lower inflated tire rode faster. I can’t remember where that study is, but if I find it I’ll post the results. The one downside to the tubeless tire craze is, in my experience, you need to have an air compressor to initially inflate the tire on the rim. Once the tire’s bead is seated to the rim, you can use a floor pump. Also, the tire seems to lose air slightly quicker than a cincher. Nothing drastic, but after two days I needed to put a few pounds back in. One request Hutchinson – please make a tubeless cyclocross tire!

I can be a little obsessive compulsive about music. When I find an artist I like I go crazy buying or downloading all their stuff. I’ll listen non-stop till I’m burned out. However, I still love Placebo since discovering them just before U.S. Pro in Greenville. In Greenville a P.R. person for a cycling team said I reminded her of the song “Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley. I’ve been thinking about that since then and I think she means I have issues. She is probably correct…